Air conditioner condenser cooler

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner condenser cooler is disclosed that includes a source of cooling fluid, means for atomizing the fluid, and means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent an associated air conditioner. The atomized fluid reduces the temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser through the adiabatic process. The reduced temperature of the air facilitates the efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air minimizing the energy consumption required for the air conditioner to provide a desired level of cooling.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/804,302 filed on Jun. 9, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/889,970 filed on Feb. 15, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an air conditioner condenser cooler, and more particularly to a system for cooling the air drawn across the condenser coils of an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air conditioning units are well known appliances that are used to control the climate of an enclosed area such as a residential home, an office, or an industrial use building. An air conditioner is configured to transfer heat energy from the air in the enclosed area to the outside ambient air.

An air conditioner includes a closed loop fluid path containing a chemical refrigerant. The fluid path includes three primary components; namely, an evaporator coil, a compressor, and a condenser coil. The refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator coil as a low pressure cool liquid. The air to be cooled is blown across the evaporator coil. Heat energy from the air is transferred to the low pressure liquid refrigerant flowing through the evaporator coil reducing the temperature of the air and causing the liquid refrigerant to evaporate within the evaporator coil. The refrigerant exits the evaporator coil as a low pressure cool gas and flows through the fluid path into the compressor. The compressor compresses the refrigerant causing the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant to increase. The high pressure hot gaseous refrigerant exits the compressor and flows through the fluid path into the condenser coil. The condenser coil is typically located remotely from the enclosed area being cooled. Ambient air is blown across the condenser coil causing heat energy to transfer from the hot gaseous refrigerant in the condenser coil to the transient ambient air. The refrigerant is cooled within the condenser coil causing the refrigerant to condense and exit the condenser coil as a cool high pressure liquid. The cooled high pressure liquid is supplied to the evaporator coil and the process is repeated.

The efficiency of the air conditioner is greatly influenced by the temperature of the outside ambient air drawn across the condenser coil. The warmer the outside ambient air, the smaller the temperature differential between the condenser coil and the ambient air which reduces the transfer rate of heat energy from the condenser coil to ambient air. The reduced transfer rate of heat energy necessitates the air conditioner to run for longer intervals to maintain a desired air temperature in the enclosed area. Additionally, the compressor of the air conditioner consumes additional energy when the ambient air is at an elevated temperature to facilitate the condensation of the refrigerant in the condenser coil.

The typical air conditioner is powered by electrical energy. The cost of operating the air conditioner is significantly increased during periods of high ambient temperatures due to the additional consumption of electrical energy resulting from the inefficiency created by the high ambient temperatures. Some consumers may forego the use of air conditioners during such times of costly operation; select a higher interior thermostat setting to offset the increased electrical load placed on the air conditioner; or simply endure the higher electrical costs.

Air conditioner inefficiency created by warm ambient temperatures imposes a tremendous strain on the associated electrical supply grid. The hottest summer days are often accompanied by power outages caused by an overloading of the electrical supply grid. Providers of electrical energy often request that customers conserve electricity to reduce the peak electrical demands and militate against such power outages. Additionally, electrical energy providers must make further substantial capital investments in the electrical supply grid, such as building additional power plant facilities, which are only utilized during those few hot summer peak demand days.

A cost effective means of cooling the ambient air drawn across the condenser coil would maintain a sufficient temperature differential between the condenser coil and the ambient air to facilitate the efficient transfer of heat energy therebetween. If such an air condenser cooler were available, individual consumers would save money by reducing the electrical costs associated with operating an air conditioner. Additionally, all of society would benefit by the resulting conservation of electrical energy and the reduction in the peak demand placed on the electrical grid.

The adiabatic process, also known as evaporative cooling, is a well known cost effective method of reducing the temperature of ambient air. The adiabatic process has been utilized in devices to provide cooled air. One such device is the outside air cooling apparatus and method described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,957,548. The adiabatic process could be employed to facilitate the cooling of an air conditioner condenser coil.

It would be desirable to produce an economic energy efficient device utilizing an adiabatic process for lowering the temperature of the ambient air drawn across a condenser coil of an air conditioner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compatible and attuned with the present invention, an economic energy efficient device utilizing an adiabatic process for lowering the temperature of the ambient air drawn across a condenser coil of an air conditioner has surprisingly been discovered.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a source of cooling fluid; means for atomizing the fluid; and means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent an associated air conditioner, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air to be drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.

In another embodiment, an air conditioner condenser cooler of the present invention comprises a source of cooling water; a pump in fluid communication with the source of water; a water softener and a water filter disposed between the source of water and the pump; an expansion tank in fluid communication with the pump, the expansion tank adapted to maintain a volume of pressurized water received from the pump; at least one fluid distribution conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank; a normally closed solenoid actuated valve disposed between the expansion tank and the distribution conduit to selectively release the pressurized water from the expansion tank into the distribution conduit; at least one nozzle disposed in the distribution conduit to discharge atomized water into the ambient air; an electronic controller in electrical communication with the air conditioner, the solenoid actuated supply valve, and an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient relative humidity sensor, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor, and a rain sensor, the electrical input from the sensors employed to calculate the necessity to open and close the solenoid actuated supply valve; and a frame adjacent the air conditioner, the distribution conduit attached to the frame to direct the atomized water adjacent the air conditioning unit, the frame including an air pervious covering attached to thereto, wherein the atomized water causes an adiabatic cooling of the air to be drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.

In another embodiment, a method for absorbing heat energy from the condenser of an air conditioning unit including the steps of providing a source of evaporative fluid; providing means for atomizing the fluid; and directing the atomized fluid adjacent the air conditioning unit, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air to be drawn across the condenser facilitating the efficient transfer of heat from the condenser to the ambient air.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing which includes a schematic illustration of the components of an air conditioner condenser cooler according to an embodiment of the invention and a perspective view of an associated air conditioner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description and appended drawing describes and illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The description and drawing serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the method disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical.

Referring to the drawing, there is a schematic illustration of the components of an air conditioner condenser cooler and a perspective view of an associated air conditioner generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The condenser cooling system is adapted to reduce the temperature of the ambient air drawn across a condenser coil 40 of the air conditioner 10.

The condenser cooling system includes a source of cooling fluid 12. In the embodiment shown the cooling fluid is water supplied from a municipal water line. It should be understood that other fluids can be used. Additionally, it should be understood that other sources of water can be used such as collected rain water for example.

A combined fluid softener/filter 14 is disposed in fluid communication between the source of cooling fluid 12 and an associated pump 16 to provide softened/filtered cooling fluid to the pump 16. It should be understood that an individual water softener and an individual water filter can be used as desired rather than the illustrated combined water softener/filter 14. Favorable results have been obtained softening water to less than five grains of hardness and filtering water of particles five microns and greater. Other levels of softening and filtering can be achieved as desired.

An expansion tank 18 is in fluid communication with the pump 16. The tank 18 is adapted to receive cooling fluid from the pump 16 to maintain a volume of pressurized cooling fluid therein. The tank 18 includes an associated pressure switch (not shown) adapted to detect the pressure of the cooling fluid within the tank 18. The switch is in electrical communication with the pump 16 and effective to energize the pump 16 when the fluid pressure in the tank 18 falls below a desired level. Favorable results have been obtained utilizing a pressure switch configured to energize the pump 16 when the fluid pressure in the tank 18 falls below 130 psi and de-energize the pump when the pressure reaches 150 psi. It should be understood that the pressure switch can be configured to energize and de-energize the pump at other pressures as desired. The tank 18 includes a pressure relief valve (not shown) to militate against a high pressure from damaging the tank 18 and the other components of the condenser cooling system. Favorable results have been obtained using a pressure relief valve adapted to discharge cooling fluid from the tank 18 when the fluid pressure exceeds 175 psi. It should be understood that discharge pressures other than 175 psi can be used as desired.

A normally closed solenoid actuated supply valve 20 is in fluid communication with the expansion tank 18 and a distribution conduit or manifold 22. The supply valve 20 is disposed between the expansion tank 18 and the distribution conduit 22. The opening of the supply valve 20 causes the pressurized cooling fluid to flow into the distribution conduit 22. The distribution conduit includes at least one nozzle 24 disposed therein. The nozzle 24 atomizes the pressurized cooling fluid as the fluid passes therethrough and discharges the atomized cooling fluid into the ambient air. It should be understood that as used herein, atomize means the reducing the coolant fluid into a fine spray of water droplets. Favorable results have been obtained using high-density polyethylene tubing for the distribution conduit 22 having an outside diameter no greater than ½ an inch. It should be understood that other materials such as PVC or brass can be used as desired. Additionally, favorable results in achieving the desired adiabatic cooling of the ambient air have been obtained with nozzles that provide an atomized mean fluid droplet diameter between about 5 and 30 microns. Atomized mean fluid droplet diameters above 100 microns have been observed to be too large to achieve the desired adiabatic cooling process causing liquid cooling fluid to contact the components of the air conditioner which may ultimately result in oxidative damage or other damage thereto.

An electronic controller 30 is in electrical communication with the compressor (not shown) of the associated air conditioner 10 and the solenoid actuated supply valve 20. An electrical output signal from the controller 30 is effective to selectively open or close the solenoid actuated supply valve 20.

Additionally, a solenoid actuated drainage valve (not shown) may be provided. The drainage valve is controlled by an electrical signal output from the controller 30. The solenoid actuated drainage valve may be caused to open by the electrical signal output from the controller 30 at a selected temperature allowing the cooling fluid to drain from the air conditioner condenser cooler. Favorable results have been obtained by draining the cooling fluid at a temperature of thirty-six degrees Fahrenheit to militate against a freezing of the cooling fluid within the air conditioner condenser cooler. It should be understood that the drainage valve may be opened at other temperatures as desired.

The controller 30 typically includes a printed circuit board having memory and processing capabilities. A software program is installed to the circuit board memory. A keypad is included that is in electrical communication with the printed circuit board. The key board provides a human interface with the controller 30. For example, the keypad allows for manual control of the condenser cooler and viewing of the condenser exhaust air temperature. A circuit breaker is disposed between the electrical supply to the controller 30 and the printed circuit board. A weather tight enclosure may be employed to encase the printed circuit board, keypad, and circuit breaker.

Electrical inputs are provided to the controller 30 from an ambient temperature sensor 32, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor 34, an ambient humidity sensor 36, and a rain sensor 38. The inputs are processed by the program to calculate whether the operational efficiency of the air conditioner can be improved by supplying cooled ambient air to the associated condenser coil. When the program calculates that cooled ambient air will improve the operational efficiency of the air conditioner, the controller 30 provides an electrical output signal causing the solenoid actuated supply valve 20 to open. The opening of the solenoid actuated supply valve 20 releases the pressurized coolant fluid from the tank 18, through the distribution conduit 22 and to the nozzles 24 which atomize the cooling fluid and discharge the atomized coolant fluid into the ambient air. The atomized coolant initiates the adiabatic process that causes a reduction in the temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser coil.

The cooling system includes a frame 50 constructed adjacent the outer surface of the air conditioner condenser coil 40. Favorable results have been obtained constructing the frame between about ten to twelve inches from the outer surface of the condenser coil 40. In the embodiment shown, the frame 50 is constructed of ½ inch PVC piping. It should be understood that other materials can be used to construct the frame such as metal tubing or wood for example.

The distributive conduit 22 is attached to the frame 50 in such a manner to cause the nozzles 24 to be oriented to direct the atomized coolant fluid toward the air conditioner condenser coil 40. The distributive conduit 22 and nozzles 24 are attached to the frame 50 to provide a substantially uniform distribution of the atomized coolant fluid across the entire outer surface of the condenser coil 40. Favorable cooling results have been obtained by providing at least one nozzle 24 for about every 288 square inches of exposed outer surface of the condenser coil 40. It should be understood that other arrangements of the nozzles 24 can be used to provide more or less nozzles per square inch as desired.

A windscreen 52 is mounted to the frame 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the windscreen 52 is formed of a fabric material, such as shade cloth, which allows air to pass therethrough while substantially shielding the atomized water discharged from the nozzles 22 from wind and debris. Thereby, the atomized cooling fluid may most efficiently operate to cause the desired adiabatic process in the ambient air to be drawn across the condenser 40. It should be understood that other material may be used for the windscreen 54 such as louvers, for example. The windscreen 52 may wrap the ends of the frame and extend therefrom toward the outer surface of the air conditioner 10. Favorable results have been obtained in shielding the atomized cooling fluid by covering the vertical ends of the frame and not the horizontal top and bottom ends of the frame 50 with the windscreen 52.

In use, the cooling system is installed adjacent the air conditioner 10 as illustrated. The electronic controller 30 is energized when the air conditioner compressor is energized. When energized, the controller 30 will receive electrical input signals from the sensors 32, 34, 36, 38. The controller 30, through the software installed to the printed circuit board therein, is operative to calculate when cooled ambient air to the condenser coil 40 is necessary to improve the operational efficiency of the air conditioner 10. The controller 30 provides an electrical output signal causing the solenoid actuated supply valve 20 to open for a calculated time at calculated intervals or be continuously opened to provide the necessary volume of atomized cooling fluid to optimize the operational efficiency of the air conditioner 10. The atomized cooling fluid discharged into the ambient air initiates the adiabatic process to effect a reduction in the temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser coil 40.

The atomized cooling fluid is discharged into the atmospheric air as a liquid. The liquid atomized cooling fluid absorbs heat energy from the atmospheric air causing the atomized liquid to transform to a gas. The heat energy absorbed from the atmospheric air by the cooling fluid as it transforms from the liquid to the gaseous state causes a reduction in the temperature of the ambient air. A fan 42 disposed within the air conditioner 10 causes ambient air to be drawn across the condenser coil 40. The temperature of the transient ambient air drawn across the condenser coil 40 is reduced by the aforementioned adiabatic process. The lower temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser coil 40 increases the temperature differential between the transient ambient air and the temperature of the condenser coil 40 thereby increasing the efficiency of heat energy transfer from the condenser coil 40 to the transient ambient air.

When it rains, the rain sensor 38 will provide a signal to the controller 30. The signal from the rain sensor 38 overrides the calculations derived from the temperature and humidity sensors 32, 34, 36 and causes the controller 30 to maintain the solenoid actuated supply valve 24 in the closed position.

The air conditioner condenser cooler may be adapted to provide cooling fluid to more than one air conditioner condenser. In such a case, the filter/softener 14, the pump 16, and the expansion tank 18 are adapted to provide sufficient pressurized coolant fluid to cool the selected number of air conditioner condensers. Each air conditioner to be cooled is provided with the electronic controller 30 and the associated sensors 32, 34, 36, 38 along with the distribution conduit 22, nozzles 24, frame 50, and windscreen 52. Each distribution conduit 22 is in independent fluid communication with the tank 18 and a solenoid actuated supply valve 20 is disposed between the tank 18 and each distribution conduit 22. Each air conditioner condenser to be cooled is monitored by an individual electronic controller 30. The electronic controller 30 is in electrical communication with the solenoid actuated supply valve 20 of the associated distribution conduit 22 providing for the independent cooling of each of the air conditioner condensers. The cost of the air conditioner condenser cooler is minimized by utilizing a single filter/softener 14, pump 16, and tank 18, which are typically the most costly components of the air conditioner condenser cooler, to supply cooling fluid to more than one air conditioner.

The air conditioner condenser cooler described herein provides an energy efficient device utilizing an adiabatic process for lowering the temperature of the ambient air drawn across the condenser coil 40 of the air conditioner 10. The lowered temperature of the ambient air facilitates the maintenance of a temperature differential between the ambient air and the condenser coil 40 to effectively maximize the transfer rate of heat energy from the condenser coil 40 to the ambient air. An air conditioner equipped with the air conditioner condenser cooler will consume a reduced amount of electrical energy under increased ambient air temperature conditions.

Individuals will experience a savings in the electrical energy cost of operating the air conditioner 10, especially during the hottest summer days when cooling from the air conditioner 10 is most needed. The use of the air conditioner condenser cooler will reduce the peak electrical demands placed on the national electrical grid during hot summer days which would otherwise have caused the electrical power companies to build additional power plant facilities to meet the increased power requirements.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1. An air conditioner condenser cooler comprising: a source of cooling fluid; means for atomizing the fluid; and means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent an associated air conditioner, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.
 2. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is water.
 3. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 2, including a water softener disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the means for atomizing the fluid.
 4. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 3, wherein the water softener softens the fluid to be atomized to four grains of hardness or less.
 5. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 2, including a water filter disposed between the source of cooling fluid and the means for atomizing the fluid.
 6. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 5, wherein the water filter filters the fluid to be atomized of particles five microns and greater.
 7. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 1, wherein the means for atomizing the fluid includes: a pump in fluid communication with the source of fluid; an expansion tank in fluid communication with the pump, the expansion tank adapted to maintain a volume of pressurized fluid received from the pump; at least one fluid distribution conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank; and at least one nozzle disposed in the distribution conduit to discharge atomized fluid into the ambient air.
 8. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 7, wherein the expansion tank includes a normally closed solenoid actuated valve to selectively release the pressurized fluid from the expansion tank into the at least one distribution conduit.
 9. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 7, wherein the expansion tank includes a pressure switch in electrical communication with the pump, the switch effective to selectively energize the pump to maintain a desired fluid pressure within the expansion tank.
 10. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 9, wherein the desired water pressure is between about 125 and 150 psi.
 11. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle atomizes the fluid to a mean diameter droplet size between about 5 and 30 microns.
 12. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 8, including an electronic controller in electrical communication with the air conditioner and the solenoid actuated valve of the expansion tank, the controller effective to open the solenoid actuated valve.
 13. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 12, wherein the electronic controller is in electrical communication with an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient relative humidity sensor, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor, and a rain sensor, the electrical input from the sensors employed to calculate the discharge of the atomized fluid for the adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser.
 14. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 13, including a solenoid actuated drainage valve disposed in the at least one distribution channel and in electrical communication with the controller, the controller effective to selectively open the solenoid actuated valve.
 15. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 7, wherein the means for directing the atomized fluid includes a frame adjacent the air conditioner.
 16. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 15, wherein the at least one distribution conduit is secured to the frame.
 17. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of the distribution conduits are secured to the frame having respective nozzles disposed therein to provide at least one nozzle for about each 288 square inches of an outer surface area of an air conditioner condenser.
 18. The air conditioner condenser cooler according to claim 15, wherein a covering is attached to the frame, the covering adapted to shield the discharged atomized fluid from wind.
 19. An air conditioner condenser cooler comprising: a source of cooling water; a pump in fluid communication with the source of water; a water softener and a water filter disposed between the source of water and the pump; an expansion tank in fluid communication with the pump, the expansion tank adapted to maintain a volume of pressurized water received from the pump; at least one fluid distribution conduit in fluid communication with the expansion tank; a normally closed solenoid actuated valve disposed between the expansion tank and the distribution conduit to selectively release the pressurized water from the expansion tank into the distribution conduit; at least one nozzle disposed in the distribution conduit to discharge atomized water into the ambient air; an electronic controller in electrical communication with the air conditioner, the solenoid actuated supply valve, and an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient relative humidity sensor, a condenser exhaust air temperature sensor, and a rain sensor, the electrical input from the sensors employed to calculate the necessity to open and close the solenoid actuated supply valve; and a frame adjacent the air conditioner, the distribution conduit attached to the frame to direct the atomized water adjacent the air conditioning unit, the frame including a covering attached to thereto, wherein the atomized water causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat energy from the condenser to the ambient air.
 20. A method of absorbing heat energy from the condenser of an air conditioning unit including the steps of: providing a source of evaporative fluid; providing means for atomizing the fluid; and providing means for directing the atomized fluid adjacent the air conditioning unit, wherein the atomized fluid causes an adiabatic cooling of the air drawn across the condenser facilitating an efficient transfer of heat from the condenser to the air. 